A total of one hundred and Forty-five (145) subjects comprising of 50 homozygous Hemoglobin A subjects (HbAA); 50 heterozygous hemoglobin AS (HbAS) subjects and 45 homozygous hemoglobin S (HbSS) subjects were recruited for this study with a view to ascertain variations in the Hemorheological values possibly associated with the inherited hemoglobin genotype. Some Hemorheological determinants such as whole blood viscosity (WBV) and plasma viscosity (PV) and Plasma Fibrinogen Concentration (PFC) were measured with standard methods. We recorded a relatively unchanged whole blood viscosities in subjects with various hemoglobin genotypes (AA; AS and SS; P0.05; respectively). Also; there were no significant differences in PV values of HbAA and HbAS while there were significant increases in PV and PFC of HbSS compared with others (P0.05; respectively). However; relative erythrocyte viscosity (REV) of HbSS became significantly reduced when repeated with saline after replacing plasma with saline (P0.05; respectively); to ascertain the erythrocytic cellular viscosity. We conclude that increased plasma viscosity coupled with that of PFC in HBSS could be due to plasmatic components and that cellular rheologic properties of the erythrocytes may be dependent on its content of hemoglobin while whole blood viscosities are stable in native blood irrespective of haemoglobin genotypes

A total of one hundred and Forty-five (145) subjects comprising of 50 homozygous Hemoglobin A subjects (HbAA); 50 heterozygous hemoglobin AS (HbAS) subjects and 45 homozygous hemoglobin S (HbSS) subjects were recruited for this study with a view to ascertain variations in the Hemorheological values possibly associated with the inherited hemoglobin genotype. Some Hemorheological determinants such as whole blood viscosity (WBV) and plasma viscosity (PV) and Plasma Fibrinogen Concentration (PFC) were measured with standard methods. We recorded a relatively unchanged whole blood viscosities in subjects with various hemoglobin genotypes (AA; AS and SS; P0.05; respectively). Also; there were no significant differences in PV values of HbAA and HbAS while there were significant increases in PV and PFC of HbSS compared with others (P0.05; respectively). However; relative erythrocyte viscosity (REV) of HbSS became significantly reduced when repeated with saline after replacing plasma with saline (P0.05; respectively); to ascertain the erythrocytic cellular viscosity. We conclude that increased plasma viscosity coupled with that of PFC in HBSS could be due to plasmatic components and that cellular rheologic properties of the erythrocytes may be dependent on its content of hemoglobin while whole blood viscosities are stable in native blood irrespective of haemoglobin genotypes

Stored blood is used for transfusion in humans but peroxidative processes occur in stored blood before transfusion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the length of storage on plasma antioxidant levels and RBCs antioxidant enzyme activity. Blood collected from 15 donors and preserved with anticoagulant (citerate phosphate; dextrose adenine (CPDA-1) were examined. The concentration of total antioxidant status (TAS); malondialdehyde (MDA) and potassium (K+) in the plasma as well as glutathione peroxidise (GSH - Px); glutathione superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in erythrocytes were determined on days 1;5;10;15;20;25;30;35 and 40 of storage. Day 1 of the study is the day of donation.A 24.8increase in plasma concentration of MDA and 15.8increase in the concentration K+ on day 15 were recorded (p0.05). A 27decrease in the plasma concentration of TAS was observed on day 20 compared with day 1 (p0.05). Similarly GSH-Px activity is stored RBC decreased by 17.1; on day 15 (p0.05). SOD activities reduced by 17.1on day 20; CAT activities reduced by 12.6on day 15 (in each case p0.05). In this study blood stored in CPDA-1 shows that those glutathione-dependent antioxidant enzymes systems in erythrocytes and antioxidant defence in plasma were depleting gradually depending on the day of storage. We concluded based on our finding that 10 days period can be considered a safe storage limits for transfusion in relation to oxidative stress the RBCs were subjected in the storage medium.

Stored blood is used for transfusion in humans but peroxidative processes occur in stored blood before transfusion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the length of storage on plasma antioxidant levels and RBCs antioxidant enzyme activity. Blood collected from 15 donors and preserved with anticoagulant (citerate phosphate; dextrose adenine (CPDA-1) were examined. The concentration of total antioxidant status (TAS); malondialdehyde (MDA) and potassium (K+) in the plasma as well as glutathione peroxidise (GSH - Px); glutathione superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in erythrocytes were determined on days 1;5;10;15;20;25;30;35 and 40 of storage. Day 1 of the study is the day of donation.A 24.8increase in plasma concentration of MDA and 15.8increase in the concentration K+ on day 15 were recorded (p0.05). A 27decrease in the plasma concentration of TAS was observed on day 20 compared with day 1 (p0.05). Similarly GSH-Px activity is stored RBC decreased by 17.1; on day 15 (p0.05). SOD activities reduced by 17.1on day 20; CAT activities reduced by 12.6on day 15 (in each case p0.05). In this study blood stored in CPDA-1 shows that those glutathione-dependent antioxidant enzymes systems in erythrocytes and antioxidant defence in plasma were depleting gradually depending on the day of storage. We concluded based on our finding that 10 days period can be considered a safe storage limits for transfusion in relation to oxidative stress the RBCs were subjected in the storage medium.

Background: Currently; no data are available on the prevalence of red blood cell (RBC) antibody formation amongst Kenyan patients with multiple transfusion needs; such as patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) or haematological malignancies (HM) and solid (SM) malignancies.Objectives: We determined the prevalence and specificities of RBC alloantibodies and autoantibodies in two patient groups with recurrent transfusion demands at Kenyatta National Hospital; Nairobi; Kenya. Method: Between February and August 2014; 300 samples from SCD; HM and SM patients were collected and screened for alloantibodies. Samples from 51 healthy blood donors were screened for irregular antibodies and phenotyped.Results: Amongst the 228 patients with viable samples (SCD; n = 137; HM; n = 48; SM; n = 43); the median transfusion frequency was two to three events per group; 38 (16.7%) were RBC immunised and 32 (14.0%) had a positive direct antiglobulin test. We identified specific alloantibodies in six patients (2.6%). Four of these six were SCD patients (2.9%) who had specific RBC alloantibodies (anti-Cw; anti-M; anti-Cob; anti-S); amongst HM patients one had anti-K and one had anti-Lea. RBC autoantibody prevalence was 3.1% (7/228). Amongst the healthy blood donors; the Ror; ccD.ee and R2r; ccD.Ee phenotypes accounted for 82% of the Rhesus phenotypes and all were Kell negative.Conclusion: The numbers of transfusions and the rates of RBC alloantibodies are low and the most important RBC alloantibody-inducing blood group antigens are relatively homogeneously distributed in this population. A general change in the Kenyatta National Hospital pre-transfusion test regimen is thus not necessary. The current transfusion practice should be reconsidered if transfusion frequencies increase in the future.

Background: Currently; no data are available on the prevalence of red blood cell (RBC) antibody formation amongst Kenyan patients with multiple transfusion needs; such as patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) or haematological malignancies (HM) and solid (SM) malignancies.Objectives: We determined the prevalence and specificities of RBC alloantibodies and autoantibodies in two patient groups with recurrent transfusion demands at Kenyatta National Hospital; Nairobi; Kenya. Method: Between February and August 2014; 300 samples from SCD; HM and SM patients were collected and screened for alloantibodies. Samples from 51 healthy blood donors were screened for irregular antibodies and phenotyped.Results: Amongst the 228 patients with viable samples (SCD; n = 137; HM; n = 48; SM; n = 43); the median transfusion frequency was two to three events per group; 38 (16.7%) were RBC immunised and 32 (14.0%) had a positive direct antiglobulin test. We identified specific alloantibodies in six patients (2.6%). Four of these six were SCD patients (2.9%) who had specific RBC alloantibodies (anti-Cw; anti-M; anti-Cob; anti-S); amongst HM patients one had anti-K and one had anti-Lea. RBC autoantibody prevalence was 3.1% (7/228). Amongst the healthy blood donors; the Ror; ccD.ee and R2r; ccD.Ee phenotypes accounted for 82% of the Rhesus phenotypes and all were Kell negative.Conclusion: The numbers of transfusions and the rates of RBC alloantibodies are low and the most important RBC alloantibody-inducing blood group antigens are relatively homogeneously distributed in this population. A general change in the Kenyatta National Hospital pre-transfusion test regimen is thus not necessary. The current transfusion practice should be reconsidered if transfusion frequencies increase in the future.